Brunello di Montalcino
Wine from Montalcino was only appreciated and understood by locals as recently as the 70's, even though its warm dry climate has much in common with its famous Tuscan cousin, Chianti. However pioneering work from Clemente Santi with various clones of Sangiovese led to what was labelled Brunello di Montalcino. Changes in strict laws have allowed this region to react better to modern trends, reducing mandatory oak ageing from 4 to 2 years. As with Chianti small amount of foreign grapes can now be including within blends.
Read More
Brunello di Montalcino
Photo
AI Chat
-
(6x75cl) 2017As a fine wine aficionado, one cannot overlook the 'Podere Ripi Brunello di Montalcino Amore & Magia 2017'. It is an epitome of elegance and versatility, crafted by the renowned Podere Ripi estate in the timeless Montalcino vineyards, a UNESCO world heritage site in Tuscany, Italy. Precision and artistry are evident in the biodynamic handling of vineyards and the selective hand-picking of grapes. This captivating wine boasts the depth and understated concentration of pure Sangiovese grapes, aged meticulously in Slavonian oak for a minimum of 3 years.
The bouquet encompasses a symphony of red cherry, dark chocolate, and delicate spice flavours, accentuated by a vibrant acidity and well-integrated tannins, undeniably implying longevity. The harmonious blend derives its namesake, 'Amore & Magia' - Love and Magic, symbolising the dedication and magic incorporated by the producer in crafting this exceptional elixir. Indulge in the magical allure of the 'Podere Ripi Brunello di Montalcino Amore & Magia 2017'.
Inc. VAT£400.32 -
(6x75cl) 2018<p>Immerse yourself in the majesty of Podere Ripi Brunello di Montalcino Amore & Magia 2018. Conceived within Tuscany’s scenic hillsides, this Italian red radiates the tradition of its birthplace, Montalcino. It showcases the robust elegance of the Sangiovese grape, employing bio-dynamic and organic farming methods for exceptional purity. Podere Ripi, noted for their artisanally-crafted wines, uses amphora and concrete-egg fermentation, promoting a balanced structure and nuanced complexity. This expression hails from a vineyard at 470 metres above sea level, infusing the wine with unique terroir characteristics. Distinguished by a deep ruby-red colour and exuding delicate aromas of cherry, violet, and sweet spices, the wine unveils layers of berry fruits, toasted almonds and earthy truffle on the palate. Structured tannins, abundant acidity and a lingering finish define this masterpiece. Podere Ripi Brunello di Montalcino Amore & Magia 2018 personifies pristine Tuscan winemaking, offering a timeless companion for the discerning connoisseur.</p>Inc. VAT£547.62 -
A truly enchanting Italian marvel, the Podere Ripi Brunello di Montalcino Amore & Magia 2019 is crafted with attention and reverence in the scenic hills of Tuscany. Established by Francesco Illy, the meticulous team at Podere Ripi expressed their enthusiasm for organic, biodynamic cultivation in this velvety red. Crushed by foot, every batch is fermented in open-top wood or concrete tanks before 36 months of ageing in oak barrels. The end result is a wine of depth, character, and authenticity. On the palate,this Brunello reveals complex notes of dark fruits, earthy truffles, and smoky tobacco. With a captivating floral aroma and fine-grained tannins, it finishes with a rich and balanced taste. In every bottle of Podere Ripi Brunello di Montalcino Amore & Magia 2019, is a testament of Tuscany's winemaking prowess and only gets better with age. A must for collectors and aficionados alike.
Inc. VAT£514.40 -
(6x75cl) 2020Jeb Dunnuck (92)
A bright ruby red color, the 2020 Rosso Di Montalcino Sogni & Follia is very pretty on the nose, with a floral and red-fruited perfume of grenadine, pristine fresh fruit, flowers, and wet stones. Medium-bodied, it has fine tannins and a clean, fruity feel with a lovely tapering finish. This is a beautiful and clean style that I would be happy to drink all day long over the next 6-7 years.Inc. VAT£256.91 -
Wine Spectator (94)
Glorious aromas of crushed berries, spices and cherries, with hints of cedar. Full-bodied, with big, velvety tannins and a thick and rich palate. Loads of cherry fruit. Luscious red. Best after 2003. 450 cases made.Inc. VAT£804.07 -
(6x75cl) 2010Vinous (90)
Poggio Antico's 2010 Brunello di Montalcino is a dark, sensual beauty. Black cherries, mocha, smoke, licorice, leather and cloves meld together in a racy, powerful Brunello built on pure texture. The style is rich, racy and super-intense, with silky tannins that support the structured finish. The 2010 spent three years in cask.Inc. VAT£772.78 -
Wine Advocate (95+)
The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino offers a pure and classic expression of the vintage with bright fruit tones, wild cherry, toasted nut, blue flower and forest floor. Whereas the other wines in the Poggio Antico portfolio undergo aging in smaller tonneaux, this wine is aged in large Slavonian casks instead. You taste the lift and brightness of the fruit, and it's all quite lovely. Grapes are sourced across a 13-hectare site at a very high 500 meters in elevation. The name of this area is I Poggi, and the soils here are a bit lighter and rockier with both schistous galestro and limestone alberese. I love the delicate approach here, the intensity of those floral aromas, and the silky nature of the mouthfeel. Some 34,000 bottles will be released in January 2021. This classic Brunello really stands out.Inc. VAT£296.98 -
(1x150cl) 2017Inc. VAT£133.72 -
Inc. VAT£230.15 -
Jancis Robinson (17+)
Lustrous mid ruby. A tiny bit reductive and closed right now and only showing savoury, minerally hints. Lots of suave, polished marasca-cherry fruit with finely grained, but firm, tannins and super-attractive, supple, tangy acidity. Still not entirely open but with lots of potential.Inc. VAT£133.67 -
(6x75cl) 2019Wine Advocate (94)
The Poggio Antico 2019 Brunello di Montalcino has a pretty bouquet with a unique set of aromas that recall dried cherries with hints of rose potpourri or fragrant acacia wood. Those delicate floral notes give lift and energy to the bouquet. The only distraction is the 15% alcohol content. Otherwise, this wine is a good example of a classic vintage. Production is 37,800 bottles.Inc. VAT£327.20 -
Vinous (91.5)
Dark red with a large pale rim. Big, brooding wine that offers much darker color, aromas and flavors than Poggio Antico’s 2015 Brunello classico. But bigger is not necessarily better, and I find that the cedary, flinty, herbal nuances to the red and blue fruits neither have much verve nor they represent my ideal Sangiovese wine. Will likely improve with cellaring, but for the money, I’d rather buy Poggio Antico’s regular 2015 Brunello.Inc. VAT£622.84 -
Wine Advocate (97)
The Poggio Antico 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva (with 9,000 bottles going to market in January 2021) is a thickly textured and rich wine with fruit-driven flavors and extra fiber. The wine sings with the characteristics of this vintage that will be remembered for the sunshine, the warmth and the picture-perfect fruit. Each cluster hung from the vine with glorious perfection. There is more warmth and dark plum intensity here for sure, and you also get greater latitude in terms of those savory tones of leather, tobacco and tilled earth. The Riserva is sourced from the Il Vignone site at a high 500 meters above sea level where summer breezes keep the grapes healthy and ripe.Inc. VAT£430.78 -
(1x150cl) 2016Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (97)
This was an exceptional year in Brunello and straight away you are struck by the depth of expression, and the tannic heft and width. Plenty of raspberry, rose petal and red cherry puree along with blackberry, campfire and brioche notes. A classic, signature Brunello with all that you expect from a 2016 in the region. Absolutely one to look out for, moreish, saline-streaked, mouthwatering and walks the line of power and finesse. This is just approaching the sweet spot for drinking but will hold. 30 months in bottle after 30 months in barrel. Slavonian oak casks for ageing.Inc. VAT£157.67 -
Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (97)
This was an exceptional year in Brunello and straight away you are struck by the depth of expression, and the tannic heft and width. Plenty of raspberry, rose petal and red cherry puree along with blackberry, campfire and brioche notes. A classic, signature Brunello with all that you expect from a 2016 in the region. Absolutely one to look out for, moreish, saline-streaked, mouthwatering and walks the line of power and finesse. This is just approaching the sweet spot for drinking but will hold. 30 months in bottle after 30 months in barrel. Slavonian oak casks for ageing.Inc. VAT£337.54 -
Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (97)
This was an exceptional year in Brunello and straight away you are struck by the depth of expression, and the tannic heft and width. Plenty of raspberry, rose petal and red cherry puree along with blackberry, campfire and brioche notes. A classic, signature Brunello with all that you expect from a 2016 in the region. Absolutely one to look out for, moreish, saline-streaked, mouthwatering and walks the line of power and finesse. This is just approaching the sweet spot for drinking but will hold. 30 months in bottle after 30 months in barrel. Slavonian oak casks for ageing.Inc. VAT£417.20 -
Inc. VAT£141.80 -
Inc. VAT£138.20 -
(6x75cl) 2008Jancis Robinson (18)
Just mid ruby with broad orange-tinged rim. Lifted, fresh and a little wild on the nose! Ripe sweet cherry with a spiced theme running through it. Crunchy tannin. Great balance and style and unpolished.Inc. VAT£1,370.44 -
Vinous (93)
Good bright medium red. Rich aromas of raspberry, red cherry, licorice, sweet pipe tobacco and violet. Rich, layered and sweet, boasting superb definition and depth to its fleshy but vibrant red berry, sweet spice and licorice flavors. This big, broad, perfumed wine finishes with excellent clarity and floral lift. Another standout Brunello from this producer and easily one of the year's best. I'd enjoy it within the next ten years, but I suspect it has the structure to age for longer than that.Inc. VAT£1,143.95 -
Wine Advocate (97)
The Poggio di Sotto 2010 Brunello di Montalcino shows beautiful freshness, power and silky tannins. That brightness is the defining characteristic of this vintage. You feel it with vivid electrical force. This is remembered as a warm vintage, but considering today's climate change challenges, it might be classified as a cooler year according to today's standards. The intensity of the wine builds in thick layers, and it shows balanced fruit, chalky mineral and lasting herbal sensations. The 2019 vintage could age with similar success as this 2010.Inc. VAT£1,797.95 -
Wine Advocate (94)
The 2011 vintage represents the first growing season farmed by its current owner, Claudio Tipa, and the ColleMassari team. The previous owner, Piero Palmucci, started the season by dropping fruit, and this helped push ripening forward. However, this vintage is remember for the hard work required to bring clean fruit into the winery. "Each cluster took about five minutes to trim and clean," says winemaker Luca Marrone: "This was one of the most expensive vintages ever because of all the cutting required." The 2011 Brunello di Montalcino has a sweet theme that comes from hot weather and sirocco winds that blew hot like a hair dryer throughout the summer. The vines were left with ripening fruit and no leaves, and some of the berries dried on the vine. The grapes were completely destemmed to avoid bitterness. (Since 2014, the winery has been working with whole berries.) This wine shows surprising freshness, nonetheless, and it is in terrific form today. There is a tannic pinch at the end, but the wine remains ample and generous in terms of mouthfeel. It's not overripe per se, but it is quite broad.Inc. VAT£873.95 -
Vinous (95)
A taster would never know that the 2012 Brunello di Montalcino hailed from a warm vintage, with its bright and airy bouquet that blends mentholated herbs with exotic spice, worn leather and dusty dried strawberries. This coasts across the palate with ease, zesty and fresh, with tart red berries and sour citrus tones that add tension, yet also maintains a marvelous vibrancy. While long and gently structured still, there’s a finesse here that keeps me looking back to the glass for more, as the 2012 leaves the mouth watering with a tart cherry pit twang. Production was down around 30% in 2012, with a strict selection in the vineyards and a much earlier harvest that ended around September 15th. While drinking this today is certainly an option, there are still many years of evolution in store.Inc. VAT£1,186.32 -
Wine Advocate (96+)
From a cool growing season with above average rain, the Poggio di Sotto 2013 Brunello di Montalcino appears a bit timid and closed at this time. It shows delicate aromas, chalky tannins and a nice evolution; however, it remains on the shy side throughout. You feel the tension and the acidity of the fruit, and indeed, the promise of long cellar-aging potential is apparent. This vintage is very fine and vertical, and in many respects, 2013 is very close to the house style desired at Poggio di Sotto. Only one cask of the 2014 vintage was produced (botte number 14) because that season saw excessive humidity and soggy conditions.Inc. VAT£357.84 -
Vinous (96)
Luminous red. Delicately smoky and ripe on the nose, with deep raspberry and red cherry aromas complicated by notes of sandalwood, licorice, graphite and sweet pipe tobacco. Full and rich but also very bright, with red and dark berry flavors given life by juicy, harmonious acidity and very nicely framed by supple tannins. Closes long, fresh, and expansive, deeper and less sweet than the estate’s 2018 Rosso di Montalcino also released this year. Utterly delicious and already accessible, this boasts noteworthy elegance and freshness for such a big ripe wine.Inc. VAT£813.12 -
Falstaff (99)
Bright, flint garnet red. Seductive nose with pronounced notes of wild raspberry, some strawberry, underlaid with liquorice tones. On the palate extremely juicy and clear, many churches, in addition pomegranate and some blood orange, much tension, very long finish.Inc. VAT£976.32 -
Wine Advocate (97)
Made with certified-organic fruit, the 2017 Brunello di Montalcino is an impossibly graceful wine from a challenging vintage. This bottle defies the odds—and the dry heat of the growing season—to reveal soft layers of cherry, cassis and more vibrant fruit. It glides clear over the palate with silky momentum, and you only notice the tannins at the very end. Even those should soften and integrate as this collectible wine continues it bottle evolution. Production is 19,000 bottles.Inc. VAT£1,396.87 -
Wine Advocate (97)
Made with certified-organic fruit, the 2017 Brunello di Montalcino is an impossibly graceful wine from a challenging vintage. This bottle defies the odds—and the dry heat of the growing season—to reveal soft layers of cherry, cassis and more vibrant fruit. It glides clear over the palate with silky momentum, and you only notice the tannins at the very end. Even those should soften and integrate as this collectible wine continues it bottle evolution. Production is 19,000 bottles.Inc. VAT£789.95 -
Falstaff (98)
Brilliant ruby. Intense and inviting nose of ripe black cherries, plus raspberries and strawberries, some tobacco in the background. Embraces the palate richly with lots of fresh, appealing fruit; plum, cherry and goji berry, plus finely-meshed tannin, juicy and long.Inc. VAT£431.58 -
Falstaff (98)
Brilliant ruby. Intense and inviting nose of ripe black cherries, plus raspberries and strawberries, some tobacco in the background. Embraces the palate richly with lots of fresh, appealing fruit; plum, cherry and goji berry, plus finely-meshed tannin, juicy and long.Inc. VAT£807.95
-
(6x75cl) 2017
As a fine wine aficionado, one cannot overlook the 'Podere Ripi Brunello di Montalcino Amore & Magia 2017'. It is an epitome of elegance and versatility, crafted by the renowned Podere Ripi estate in the timeless Montalcino vineyards, a UNESCO world heritage site in Tuscany, Italy. Precision and artistry are evident in the biodynamic handling of vineyards and the selective hand-picking of grapes. This captivating wine boasts the depth and understated concentration of pure Sangiovese grapes, aged meticulously in Slavonian oak for a minimum of 3 years.
The bouquet encompasses a symphony of red cherry, dark chocolate, and delicate spice flavours, accentuated by a vibrant acidity and well-integrated tannins, undeniably implying longevity. The harmonious blend derives its namesake, 'Amore & Magia' - Love and Magic, symbolising the dedication and magic incorporated by the producer in crafting this exceptional elixir. Indulge in the magical allure of the 'Podere Ripi Brunello di Montalcino Amore & Magia 2017'.
In Bond£313.00 -
(6x75cl) 2018<p>Immerse yourself in the majesty of Podere Ripi Brunello di Montalcino Amore & Magia 2018. Conceived within Tuscany’s scenic hillsides, this Italian red radiates the tradition of its birthplace, Montalcino. It showcases the robust elegance of the Sangiovese grape, employing bio-dynamic and organic farming methods for exceptional purity. Podere Ripi, noted for their artisanally-crafted wines, uses amphora and concrete-egg fermentation, promoting a balanced structure and nuanced complexity. This expression hails from a vineyard at 470 metres above sea level, infusing the wine with unique terroir characteristics. Distinguished by a deep ruby-red colour and exuding delicate aromas of cherry, violet, and sweet spices, the wine unveils layers of berry fruits, toasted almonds and earthy truffle on the palate. Structured tannins, abundant acidity and a lingering finish define this masterpiece. Podere Ripi Brunello di Montalcino Amore & Magia 2018 personifies pristine Tuscan winemaking, offering a timeless companion for the discerning connoisseur.</p>In Bond£437.11
-
A truly enchanting Italian marvel, the Podere Ripi Brunello di Montalcino Amore & Magia 2019 is crafted with attention and reverence in the scenic hills of Tuscany. Established by Francesco Illy, the meticulous team at Podere Ripi expressed their enthusiasm for organic, biodynamic cultivation in this velvety red. Crushed by foot, every batch is fermented in open-top wood or concrete tanks before 36 months of ageing in oak barrels. The end result is a wine of depth, character, and authenticity. On the palate,this Brunello reveals complex notes of dark fruits, earthy truffles, and smoky tobacco. With a captivating floral aroma and fine-grained tannins, it finishes with a rich and balanced taste. In every bottle of Podere Ripi Brunello di Montalcino Amore & Magia 2019, is a testament of Tuscany's winemaking prowess and only gets better with age. A must for collectors and aficionados alike.
In Bond£408.00 -
(6x75cl) 2020
Jeb Dunnuck (92)
A bright ruby red color, the 2020 Rosso Di Montalcino Sogni & Follia is very pretty on the nose, with a floral and red-fruited perfume of grenadine, pristine fresh fruit, flowers, and wet stones. Medium-bodied, it has fine tannins and a clean, fruity feel with a lovely tapering finish. This is a beautiful and clean style that I would be happy to drink all day long over the next 6-7 years.In Bond£194.85 -
Wine Spectator (94)
Glorious aromas of crushed berries, spices and cherries, with hints of cedar. Full-bodied, with big, velvety tannins and a thick and rich palate. Loads of cherry fruit. Luscious red. Best after 2003. 450 cases made.In Bond£638.00 -
(6x75cl) 2010
Vinous (90)
Poggio Antico's 2010 Brunello di Montalcino is a dark, sensual beauty. Black cherries, mocha, smoke, licorice, leather and cloves meld together in a racy, powerful Brunello built on pure texture. The style is rich, racy and super-intense, with silky tannins that support the structured finish. The 2010 spent three years in cask.In Bond£624.00 -
Wine Advocate (95+)
The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino offers a pure and classic expression of the vintage with bright fruit tones, wild cherry, toasted nut, blue flower and forest floor. Whereas the other wines in the Poggio Antico portfolio undergo aging in smaller tonneaux, this wine is aged in large Slavonian casks instead. You taste the lift and brightness of the fruit, and it's all quite lovely. Grapes are sourced across a 13-hectare site at a very high 500 meters in elevation. The name of this area is I Poggi, and the soils here are a bit lighter and rockier with both schistous galestro and limestone alberese. I love the delicate approach here, the intensity of those floral aromas, and the silky nature of the mouthfeel. Some 34,000 bottles will be released in January 2021. This classic Brunello really stands out.In Bond£227.50 -
(1x150cl) 2017In Bond£105.00
-
In Bond£172.50
-
Jancis Robinson (17+)
Lustrous mid ruby. A tiny bit reductive and closed right now and only showing savoury, minerally hints. Lots of suave, polished marasca-cherry fruit with finely grained, but firm, tannins and super-attractive, supple, tangy acidity. Still not entirely open but with lots of potential.In Bond£104.50 -
(6x75cl) 2019
Wine Advocate (94)
The Poggio Antico 2019 Brunello di Montalcino has a pretty bouquet with a unique set of aromas that recall dried cherries with hints of rose potpourri or fragrant acacia wood. Those delicate floral notes give lift and energy to the bouquet. The only distraction is the 15% alcohol content. Otherwise, this wine is a good example of a classic vintage. Production is 37,800 bottles.In Bond£252.00 -
Vinous (91.5)
Dark red with a large pale rim. Big, brooding wine that offers much darker color, aromas and flavors than Poggio Antico’s 2015 Brunello classico. But bigger is not necessarily better, and I find that the cedary, flinty, herbal nuances to the red and blue fruits neither have much verve nor they represent my ideal Sangiovese wine. Will likely improve with cellaring, but for the money, I’d rather buy Poggio Antico’s regular 2015 Brunello.In Bond£503.00 -
Wine Advocate (97)
The Poggio Antico 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva (with 9,000 bottles going to market in January 2021) is a thickly textured and rich wine with fruit-driven flavors and extra fiber. The wine sings with the characteristics of this vintage that will be remembered for the sunshine, the warmth and the picture-perfect fruit. Each cluster hung from the vine with glorious perfection. There is more warmth and dark plum intensity here for sure, and you also get greater latitude in terms of those savory tones of leather, tobacco and tilled earth. The Riserva is sourced from the Il Vignone site at a high 500 meters above sea level where summer breezes keep the grapes healthy and ripe.In Bond£339.00 -
(1x150cl) 2016
Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (97)
This was an exceptional year in Brunello and straight away you are struck by the depth of expression, and the tannic heft and width. Plenty of raspberry, rose petal and red cherry puree along with blackberry, campfire and brioche notes. A classic, signature Brunello with all that you expect from a 2016 in the region. Absolutely one to look out for, moreish, saline-streaked, mouthwatering and walks the line of power and finesse. This is just approaching the sweet spot for drinking but will hold. 30 months in bottle after 30 months in barrel. Slavonian oak casks for ageing.In Bond£124.50 -
Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (97)
This was an exceptional year in Brunello and straight away you are struck by the depth of expression, and the tannic heft and width. Plenty of raspberry, rose petal and red cherry puree along with blackberry, campfire and brioche notes. A classic, signature Brunello with all that you expect from a 2016 in the region. Absolutely one to look out for, moreish, saline-streaked, mouthwatering and walks the line of power and finesse. This is just approaching the sweet spot for drinking but will hold. 30 months in bottle after 30 months in barrel. Slavonian oak casks for ageing.In Bond£267.50 -
Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (97)
This was an exceptional year in Brunello and straight away you are struck by the depth of expression, and the tannic heft and width. Plenty of raspberry, rose petal and red cherry puree along with blackberry, campfire and brioche notes. A classic, signature Brunello with all that you expect from a 2016 in the region. Absolutely one to look out for, moreish, saline-streaked, mouthwatering and walks the line of power and finesse. This is just approaching the sweet spot for drinking but will hold. 30 months in bottle after 30 months in barrel. Slavonian oak casks for ageing.In Bond£327.00 -
In Bond£97.50
-
In Bond£94.50
-
(6x75cl) 2008
Jancis Robinson (18)
Just mid ruby with broad orange-tinged rim. Lifted, fresh and a little wild on the nose! Ripe sweet cherry with a spiced theme running through it. Crunchy tannin. Great balance and style and unpolished.In Bond£1,126.00 -
Vinous (93)
Good bright medium red. Rich aromas of raspberry, red cherry, licorice, sweet pipe tobacco and violet. Rich, layered and sweet, boasting superb definition and depth to its fleshy but vibrant red berry, sweet spice and licorice flavors. This big, broad, perfumed wine finishes with excellent clarity and floral lift. Another standout Brunello from this producer and easily one of the year's best. I'd enjoy it within the next ten years, but I suspect it has the structure to age for longer than that.In Bond£934.00 -
Wine Advocate (97)
The Poggio di Sotto 2010 Brunello di Montalcino shows beautiful freshness, power and silky tannins. That brightness is the defining characteristic of this vintage. You feel it with vivid electrical force. This is remembered as a warm vintage, but considering today's climate change challenges, it might be classified as a cooler year according to today's standards. The intensity of the wine builds in thick layers, and it shows balanced fruit, chalky mineral and lasting herbal sensations. The 2019 vintage could age with similar success as this 2010.In Bond£1,479.00 -
Wine Advocate (94)
The 2011 vintage represents the first growing season farmed by its current owner, Claudio Tipa, and the ColleMassari team. The previous owner, Piero Palmucci, started the season by dropping fruit, and this helped push ripening forward. However, this vintage is remember for the hard work required to bring clean fruit into the winery. "Each cluster took about five minutes to trim and clean," says winemaker Luca Marrone: "This was one of the most expensive vintages ever because of all the cutting required." The 2011 Brunello di Montalcino has a sweet theme that comes from hot weather and sirocco winds that blew hot like a hair dryer throughout the summer. The vines were left with ripening fruit and no leaves, and some of the berries dried on the vine. The grapes were completely destemmed to avoid bitterness. (Since 2014, the winery has been working with whole berries.) This wine shows surprising freshness, nonetheless, and it is in terrific form today. There is a tannic pinch at the end, but the wine remains ample and generous in terms of mouthfeel. It's not overripe per se, but it is quite broad.In Bond£709.00 -
Vinous (95)
A taster would never know that the 2012 Brunello di Montalcino hailed from a warm vintage, with its bright and airy bouquet that blends mentholated herbs with exotic spice, worn leather and dusty dried strawberries. This coasts across the palate with ease, zesty and fresh, with tart red berries and sour citrus tones that add tension, yet also maintains a marvelous vibrancy. While long and gently structured still, there’s a finesse here that keeps me looking back to the glass for more, as the 2012 leaves the mouth watering with a tart cherry pit twang. Production was down around 30% in 2012, with a strict selection in the vineyards and a much earlier harvest that ended around September 15th. While drinking this today is certainly an option, there are still many years of evolution in store.In Bond£970.00 -
Wine Advocate (96+)
From a cool growing season with above average rain, the Poggio di Sotto 2013 Brunello di Montalcino appears a bit timid and closed at this time. It shows delicate aromas, chalky tannins and a nice evolution; however, it remains on the shy side throughout. You feel the tension and the acidity of the fruit, and indeed, the promise of long cellar-aging potential is apparent. This vintage is very fine and vertical, and in many respects, 2013 is very close to the house style desired at Poggio di Sotto. Only one cask of the 2014 vintage was produced (botte number 14) because that season saw excessive humidity and soggy conditions.In Bond£292.00 -
Vinous (96)
Luminous red. Delicately smoky and ripe on the nose, with deep raspberry and red cherry aromas complicated by notes of sandalwood, licorice, graphite and sweet pipe tobacco. Full and rich but also very bright, with red and dark berry flavors given life by juicy, harmonious acidity and very nicely framed by supple tannins. Closes long, fresh, and expansive, deeper and less sweet than the estate’s 2018 Rosso di Montalcino also released this year. Utterly delicious and already accessible, this boasts noteworthy elegance and freshness for such a big ripe wine.In Bond£659.00 -
Falstaff (99)
Bright, flint garnet red. Seductive nose with pronounced notes of wild raspberry, some strawberry, underlaid with liquorice tones. On the palate extremely juicy and clear, many churches, in addition pomegranate and some blood orange, much tension, very long finish.In Bond£795.00 -
Wine Advocate (97)
Made with certified-organic fruit, the 2017 Brunello di Montalcino is an impossibly graceful wine from a challenging vintage. This bottle defies the odds—and the dry heat of the growing season—to reveal soft layers of cherry, cassis and more vibrant fruit. It glides clear over the palate with silky momentum, and you only notice the tannins at the very end. Even those should soften and integrate as this collectible wine continues it bottle evolution. Production is 19,000 bottles.In Bond£1,132.00 -
Wine Advocate (97)
Made with certified-organic fruit, the 2017 Brunello di Montalcino is an impossibly graceful wine from a challenging vintage. This bottle defies the odds—and the dry heat of the growing season—to reveal soft layers of cherry, cassis and more vibrant fruit. It glides clear over the palate with silky momentum, and you only notice the tannins at the very end. Even those should soften and integrate as this collectible wine continues it bottle evolution. Production is 19,000 bottles.In Bond£639.00 -
Falstaff (98)
Brilliant ruby. Intense and inviting nose of ripe black cherries, plus raspberries and strawberries, some tobacco in the background. Embraces the palate richly with lots of fresh, appealing fruit; plum, cherry and goji berry, plus finely-meshed tannin, juicy and long.In Bond£350.00 -
Falstaff (98)
Brilliant ruby. Intense and inviting nose of ripe black cherries, plus raspberries and strawberries, some tobacco in the background. Embraces the palate richly with lots of fresh, appealing fruit; plum, cherry and goji berry, plus finely-meshed tannin, juicy and long.In Bond£654.00
Wine from Montalcino was only appreciated and understood by locals as recently as the 70's, even though its warm dry climate has much in common with its famous Tuscan cousin, Chianti. However pioneering work from Clemente Santi with various clones of Sangiovese led to what was labelled Brunello di Montalcino. Changes in strict laws have allowed this region to react better to modern trends, reducing mandatory oak ageing from 4 to 2 years. As with Chianti small amount of foreign grapes can now be included within blends.
